paint Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating
    pigment.
    • artists use `paint' and `pigment' interchangeably
  2. noun (basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court
    key.
    • he hit a jump shot from the top of the key
    • he dominates play in the paint
  3. noun makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks
    blusher; rouge.
  4. verb make a painting
    • he painted all day in the garden
    • He painted a painting of the garden
  5. verb apply paint to; coat with paint
    • We painted the rooms yellow
  6. verb make a painting of
    • He painted his mistress many times
  7. verb apply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oil

WordNet

Paint transitive verb
Etymology
OE. peinten, fr. F. peint, p. p. o peindre to paint, fr. L. pingere, pictum; cf. Gr. many-colored, Skr. pic to adorn. Cf. Depict, Picture, Pigment, Pint.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Painted; present participle & verbal noun Painting
Definitions
  1. To cover with coloring matter; to apply paint to; as, to paint a house, a signboard, etc.
    Jezebel painted her face and tired her head. 2 Kings ix. 30.
  2. Fig.: To color, stain, or tinge; to adorn or beautify with colors; to diversify with colors.
    Not painted with the crimson spots of blood. Shak.
    Cuckoo buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight. Shak.
  3. To form in colors a figure or likeness of on a flat surface, as upon canvas; to represent by means of colors or hues; to exhibit in a tinted image; to portray with paints; as, to paint a portrait or a landscape.
  4. Fig.: To represent or exhibit to the mind; to describe vividly; to delineate; to image; to depict.
    Disloyal? The word is too good to paint out her wickedness. Shak.
    If folly grow romantic, I must paint it. Pope.
    Syn. -- To color; picture; depict; portray; delineate; sketch; draw; describe.
Paint transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To practice the art of painting; as, the artist paints well.
  2. To color one's face by way of beautifying it.
    Let her paint an inch thick. Shak.
Paint noun
Definitions
  1. (a) A pigment or coloring substance. (b) The same prepared with a vehicle, as oil, water with gum, or the like, for application to a surface.
  2. A cosmetic; rouge. Praed.

Webster 1913